The Transportation Safety Board says a plane crash that killed three Americans in northwestern Ontario was not caused by a mechanical malfunction.

Spokesman John Cottreau says it appears the plane crashed on Chappie Lake, near Kenora, during a landing attempt.

Search and rescue members found the downed Cessna 182 at about 5 p.m. Friday.

Police arrived at the scene after receiving an emergency locator signal from Chappie Lake.

The victims have been identified as 41-year-old Nikolas Rajala, 40-year-old Teresa Rajala, and 36-year-old Lynn Bohanon, all of Grand Rapids, Minn.

It’s devastating to lose the most beautiful of people all at once

Police say the three were staying at a fishing lodge in the area, and were on a fishing trip when the crash happened.

Nikolas Rajala’s sister, Allison Rajala Ahcan, 51, of Grand Rapids said all three were adventurous souls who loved the outdoors.

“It’s devastating to lose the most beautiful of people all at once,” she told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Ahcan said every weekend her brother and his wife would be doing something outdoors related. They would fly all over, even on evenings during the week, but they particularly loved Ontario, she said.

She described her brother and sister-in-law as having “lived large lives” and being very generous. She said her brother and his fraternal twin are the youngest of five children.

Nikolas Rajala owned Pohl Creek Logging in Grand Rapids and his wife Teresa worked in retail and loved gardening. Lynn Bohanon was also a pilot and she and her boyfriend had sold the plane to Nikolas Rajala, Ahcan said.

“They all were adventurous,” Ahcan said

“We are all surprised by how far and wide we are hearing from people who are devastated, how much they meant to so many people,” she said.